From the Sydney years

In 1998 - 2000 I was in Sydney working as CEO of Family Life-Interrelate. For almost a year Beth and I lived apart, by necessity not choice. Beth had to first see out the year at Quorn and sell our house there, then work on in Adelaide at East Adelaide School for two terms while supporting her mother Mum/Nan/Little Nan Norris.
In May 1999 I attended a "Progoff" Journal Writing workshop where I wrote the following reflection. Considerably later I teamed it with a sunset shot of the Algebuckina waterhole, south of Oodnadatta, while taking my sisters Ruth Natar and Joan Harslett to a "Bringing Them Home" Oodnadatta Mission Children's Home reunion there in August 2008. The senior person on that trip was the late Mona (Ngitji Ngitji) Tur (formerly Kenedy) - who was a poet.

Reflective prayers

Over some years I took time out for reflection, gathering my thoughts together into prayers. This example is from a stay at Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) in the holiday home of David and Caroline Williams in 1984.


Today
the sun rose early,
stretching arms of light from its counterpane of sea,
stirring a dawn breeze
across the bay
to the sleeping houses of the town,
colouring its pillow of cloud
with glowing promises of a new day ...
and I watched.

Oh God,
I thank you for the sun
that each day brings promises
of new experiences,
new beginnings,
new hopes, joys, fears.
Help me today
to live every moment,
to share every blessing,
to learn every lesson
to the fullest of my ability.

Beginnings

The earliest creative writing that I have kept was from when I was editor for the Lameroo Area School magazine in 1968. The magazine was called "Yambo", believed to be an Aboriginal word for "Spirit". I was Deputy Principal at the school.